The 49ers won’t be doubling their Brock collection, after all.
Over the weekend, the team signed restricted free agent Brock Wright to an offer sheet, but the Lions, for whom Wright played the last three years, announced Wednesday that they will match the offer. Wright will earn $12 million ($6 million guaranteed) over a three-year deal, according to ESPN.
Detroit had tendered Wright, 25, a one-year offer of just below $3 million to maintain the right of refusal if Wright signed an offer sheet elsewhere.
Wright had a 29-yard touchdown catch against Tampa Bay in the playoffs, but broke his forearm in that game and missed the NFC Championship Game against the 49ers.
The 49ers are still seeking a second tight end to pair with George Kittle and spell him at times. Charlie Woerner left in free agency for the Falcons, leaving the 49ers with two players entering their second year behind Kittle on the depth chart.
Cameron Latu was a third-round pick out of Alabama but missed the entire regular season and playoffs with a meniscus injury suffered in August. Seventh-round pick Brayden Willis dressed for seven regular-season games and all three playoff games, but only played 56 total snaps on offense with no catches, according to Pro Football Reference, instead filling more of a special-teams role.
In addition to those 2023 rookies, Cal product Jake Tonges remains with the 49ers after arriving to the practice squad last September.
Ross Dwelley, who spent the last six years with the 49ers, remains a free agent but after he registered just one catch last year, the offer sheet to Wright may indicate the 49ers are seeking a different solution behind the 30-year-old Kittle.